Device for removing metallic coverings from insulated conductors.



` W. B,l HBWITT. DEVIISY FOR BEMOVIG METALLIC GOVERINGS FROM INSULATED GONDUGTORS.

APPL'IQATION TILBD JULY 11,1908.

967,636', Patented Aug. 16, 1910.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT @Erie WALLACE B. HEWITT, or WEST rrrrsune, PENNSYLVANIA. .assrenon To earner" ARMORITE CONDUIT COMPANY, 0F PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA,A GDRYOMTEBT l 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

:DEVICE Een nEMovING METALLIC covnnmies FROM NsULATpn continuerons.

eea/ese.

Speeieationof Letters Patent. I Ptented Aug@ 16, ltglit.'

Application filed July 11, 190B. Serial No. 443,150.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that IMVVALLACE B. HEWITT, of West Pittsburg, Lawrence county, Penn Sylvania, have invented a new and useful Device for Removing Metallic Coverings from Insulated Conductors, of which the followingis a full, true, and exact descrippurpose of removing metal coverings or sheaths from insulated conductors; and it is designed to provide a simple and efiicientk device of rthis character, which may ybe conveniently operated, and by means of .which the metal coverinor or sheath of an electrical conductor can tbe cut atany desired point without infuring the insulation. The precise nature o my invention will be best` understood by reference to the aecompanying drawing, iii which l have shown one embodiment thereof, and which. will now be described, it being premised, however, that various changes may be made inl the construction and arrangement of the `several arts by those skilled in the art, without eparting from my invention as defined in the appended claims.

ln these drawings, the numeral 2 designates a tubular holder, preferably circular in its cross-section, and having therein near one end a cone or cam surface 3. The opposite end portion of the member 2 is' provided with an internal leftehaud screw thread 4, to receive a threaded chuck-carrier 5, in the inner end portion of which are pivotally seated a plurality of longitudinallyextending jaws (l, the free end-portions of which arcbeveled at their outer sides, as indicated at 7 for engagement with the internal cone surface 3. faces of these jaws are preferably provided with two series of intersecting corrugations or teeth 8, as shown in Fig. 5, to enable them to obtain a secure grip upon the article to J The inner gripping be held and cut. The outer end portion' of 5t the chuck-carrier 5 is providedwith a` handportion 8', preferably of linurled contour, and by means of which the carrier can be screwed into and out of the holder 2 for the purpose ofbpening and closin the jaws 6. f

A indicates a sheathed con uctor, such as is adapted to be operated upon by the' tool, and which is shown as consisting ozt oneor more conductors embedded in insulation 'and surrounded by a ribbed or corrtwated metallic esA sheath. The manner in which sconductor is engaged by the jaws 6 is clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The holder 2 istormed near its torward end with a circumferential flange 9', and in 7ofront of this flange .with a cylindrical bear ing-portiony l0, around which and against the Atace of the liange 49 `is rotatably seated a ring l1. This ring is bored out, or otherwise shaped, as indicated at 12, to receive a ring '75,

nut 13, which is threaded upon the threaded end-portion llt ot' the holder 2, ated around which the ring 11 also rotates. rThe nut 13 is preferably secured inits proper adjustable position by suitable means, such as screwsl, Se

which are seated partially in the inner surface of the nut and in the outer surface ol:l the threaded end 14 of the holder Pivoted to a projecting lug 16 of the ring 11 is a 'hand-lever 17, having a slotted portion 18 in 8'5 `which is journaled on a stud 19 albevebedge i cutting-wheel 20. Secured to a second lug 21 of the ring 11 is a jaw-piece 22, in which areJ `journaled two small rollers 23,` which are adapted to bear against the opposite side oli au the article being cutin the manner clearly shown in Fig. 2. In order to permit'of the' adjustment of this jaw-piece and of the rollers to articles of ditlerent diameters, the

lug 2l is provided with a`toothed upper sur- 95 :t'ace 24, which engaged by similar'teeth or serrations on the jaw-piece, andthe latter' 1s also provided with an elongated slot 25,

4through which extends the securing serewbolt 26. By loosening this. screw-bolt, the 10o jaw-piece and rollers can be readilyad justed towardl or away from the central longitudinal axisfof the tool. y

For the purpose of feeding the-cutter to the work automatically as it is rotated about the article to be cut, as hereinafter to bedescribed, the flange 9 is provided with a ea1nvprojection 27, which, as the ring il :is rol same size of conductor is Wheel being t -pleted. The operator canreadily determine `has been severed by the feel ous other changes may be made in the detailsv tated, engages the teeth of a star-Wheel-28 which is carried on the threaded end portion 29 of a rod 30, having a bent end 31 which 1s secured in the hand-lever 17. This rod passes loosel through a guide-rod 32 on the ring 1l; an seated between this lug and a pin 33, or other projection of the rod, 1s a spring 34 which normally acts to hold the star-wheel 28 in contact with the ,opposite fac@ Of the lug 32.

he. operation is as followszj-The tool having been applied tof the conductor to be eut, in the manner shown in Fig. 3, the hand-lever 17 is rotated, thereby turning the ring 11 and the cutter-wheel 2O around the. conductor," the cutter-Wheel being given afeed-in movement at each rotation .by the step-bystep rotation ofthestar-wheel 28. The machine is readily adapted` to be ad j-usted to different sizes of conductorsr by turning the star-Wheel 28 by hand to bring the cutter up to the Work. After this adjustment is made, the tool will then operate without further adjustment, as long as the being cut, the starturned by hand in the reverse direction a er the cutting operation is eomthe moment themetallic sheath or covering of the tool, so that the cutter will not come in Contact with or in any way injure the insulation of the conductor. rlhe beveled edge ofl the cutter insures the making of a clean sharp cut, without tins or burrs of a nature to abrade or cut the insulation in` clk-'ping oil' the severed piece.

The tool can. be conveniently held in one hand, which grasps the member 2, while the lever 17 is rotated with the other hand, the lange i) forming a protection for the hand from coming in contact with the rotating parts. 'lhe tool can be held at any desired angle to accommodate the work to be done; it can be readily applied to and Withdrawn from the conductor, and forms a simple and convenient device for the purpose. lleretofore'great difiiculty has been experienced in doing this 'class of Work without injuring the insulation of the conductors, but these -difficulties are entirely obviated bythe device described. rlhe device is also an eliective one for use in cutting metal pipes and other metal articles. y

It will be apparent thatmany changes may be made in the construction and' arrangementrof the parts, Thus, any suitable form of chuck or holding device may be employed for grasping the work; thc automatic feed 'Orthe cutter may be provided in any one of a number of dill'erent ways, and variof the parts Without all'ecting my invention.

By reason ot.' the' left-hand threaded enagement between the holder and chuckl -tially as described.

carrier, it will be noted that the operation of the tool, which takes place in the reverse or clock-Wise direction, tends to constantly tighten the grip of the jaws upon the Work. l This is a feature of great advantage, since it is impossible to properly operate the tool unless the Work is at all times tightly gripped therein.

I claim 1.. A hand tool of'the character described, comprising a holder having a gripping chuck, means for 'setting and releasing the chuck, a member rotatably mounted on the holder, a hand-lever pivoted to the member, a cutting tool carried by said lever, and means for mo'ying the hand lever and cutter to the work the tool is operated, substan* tiallyasdescribed.

2.-.A handtool of the character described, coniprisingfaholder, a movable cliiick en* gaging the holder and having a plurality of movablejaws, and the holder having means to coperate with the jaws, to close them upon the work, a ring rotatably mounted upon the holder, a hand lever pivoted to the ring and carrying a cutter, and means for automatically feeding the cutter to the work as the hand lever and ring are rotated, substantially as described.

3. A hand tool of the character described, comprising a holder having work-gripping jaws, acarrier for said jaws, means on the holder to coperate with the jaws to close them upon the work when the carrier is moved in one direction, a ring rotatably mounted upon one end portion of the holder, a.' hand lever -pivoted to the ring and carrying a cutter, and means for automatically feeding the cutter to the work as the hand leverand ring are rotated, the holder having a hand guard adjacent lo the ring, substantially as' described.

4. A hand tool of the character described, comprising a holder having a portion adapt ed to be grasped by the hand, a worlbgrippingchuck within the holder, a member rotatably mounted upon the holder, a Land lever pivotcd to said member and carrying a cutter, and a holding and guiding jaw secured to the member and arranged to hear against the work at the side opposite the cutter, substantially as described.

5. VIn a tool of the character described, a holding member, a. rotary cutting device mounted on said member, and a chuck threaded on lo the said holder and having work-gripping jaws arranged to gripv the work wlien the chuck moves in one direction, the threads of the chuck being o'll the propel" hand, so that any relative movement of the holder and chuck caused by theculting operations ol the lool lends to tightpn the grip of the chuck jaws upon the work, sl`lbsl;.i'n-

(l. In a hand-tool ol' the character described, a holdingr member having chucks therein and formed at one end portion with an external cylindrical bearing portion and 1th a threadedextenslon beyond sald bear ing portion, amember rotatably mounted upon said 'bearing portion, a nut engaging said threaded portion and securing said member, andl a hand-lever pivoted to sald member and carrying a cutter; substantially as described.

7. In a hand-tool of the character described, a holder, a member rotatably mounted on the holder, a llanddever pivoted to 'said member and carrying a Cutter, anda jaw adjustably secured to said member and having means adapted to bear against the said member and carrying a cutter, a rod' connected to the handlever, a "feed-wheel mounted on the rod, and means engaged by i the feed-wheel at each revolution of the holder; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto l set my hand.

WALLACE B. HEll/"i'F-f. `Witnesses:

M M. WATERMAN, (Jrnonee F. CLARKE, 

